Saturn Awards Honor ‘Avengers,’ ‘Breaking Bad,’ ‘Touchback’

Don Handfield, writer and director of Anchor Bay’s ‘Touchback,’ accepts the trophy for Best DVD/BD Release at the Saturn Awards.

BURBANK, Calif. — Anchor Bay’s Touchback won Best DVD/BD Release at the 39th annual Saturn Awards June 26, with Warner Home Video, Universal Studios Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Media Distribution also taking home trophies for disc releases.

“Touchback was a very special project for all involved,” said Touchback writer and director Don Handfield. “This recognition from the Academy is greatly appreciated and humbly accepted.”

Best DVD/BD Special Edition Release went to Little Shop of Horrors: The Director’s Cut (Warner Home Video); Best DVD/BD Collection Release went to Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection (Universal Studios Home Entertainment); and Best DVD/BD Television Series Release went to the Blu-rays of the first two seasons of “Star Trek: The Next Generation” (CBS and Paramount Home Entertainment).

“From zombies and super heroes to some of the best science-fiction stories ever created and the most awesome images of fantasy ever seen, this was a truly phenomenal year for genre entertainment, which is now the very heart of the entire entertainment industry,” said Robert Holguin, president of the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films.

Marvel’s The Avengers, on disc from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, led the way with four awards, including Best Science Fiction Film, Best Supporting Actor for Clark Gregg, Best Direction for Joss Whedon and Best Special Effects.

Life of Pi (20th Century Fox Home Entertainment) won two awards, including Best Fantasy Film and Best Performance by a Younger Actor for Suraj Sharma. The Cabin in the Woods (Lionsgate) was honored as Best Horror/Thriller Film, Skyfall (Fox and MGM) received the Saturn Award for Best Action/Adventure Film, and Killer Joe (Lionsgate) won for Best Independent Film Release and Best Actor for Matthew McConaughey. Best Animated Film went to Disney’s Frankenweenie, which also won Best Music for Danny Elfman. Best International Film went to Magnolia’s Headhunters.

The Hunger Games (Lionsgate) won Best Actress for Jennifer Lawrence, while The Dark Knight Rises (Warner) won Best Supporting Actress for Anne Hathaway. Best Writing went to Quentin Tarantino for Django Unchained (Anchor Bay), Best Production Design went to The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (Warner) and Best Costumes went to Les Misérables (Universal). Warner’s Cloud Atlas won two awards, for Best Editing and Best Makeup.

In the TV categories, “Breaking Bad” (on disc from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment) received three Saturn Awards — Best Presentation on Television, Best Actor (Bryan Cranston, in a tie with Kevin Bacon for “The Following”) and Best Supporting Actor on Television (Jonathan Banks).

“Revolution” (season one due Sept. 10 from Warner) was named Best Network Television Series and “Teen Wolf” (Fox) was named Best Youth-Oriented Series on Television.

“The Walking Dead” (Anchor Bay) received awards for Best Syndicated/Cable Television Series and Best Supporting Actress for Laurie Holden.

Best Actress on Television went to Anna Torv for “Fringe” (Warner) and Best Guest Star on Television went to Yvonne Strahovski for “Dexter” (CBS and Paramount).

Filmmaker William Friedkin received a Lifetime Achievement Award, and “Breaking Bad” creator Vince Gilligan, late author Richard Matheson and actor Jonathan Frakes also received special achievement awards.

The awards covered the period between Feb. 1, 2012, to Feb. 11, 2013. A full list of winners is available at www.saturnawards.org.